"I'm gonna make my Instagram private if you guys don't stop the hate this is getting out of hand," Bieber wrote

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Justin Bieber takes in the Denver Nuggets versus the Oklahoma City Thunder April 5, 2016.

Justin Bieber is sticking up for Sofia Richie.

Evidently Beliebers have not taken kindly to Richie making an appearance on the pop sensation's social media pages, as he addressed his fans with an Instagram post demanding they put an end to the negative comments against her.

"I'm gonna make my Instagram private if you guys don't stop the hate this is getting out of hand," Bieber wrote alongside a black and white selfie of the duo where Richie is holding finger guns up to Justin's head.

The 22-year-old continued: "if you guys are really fans you wouldn't be so mean to people that I like."

Bieber's threat was preceded by a series of snapshots of the two posing for the camera and flashing silly faces. Richie, who is the daughter of music icon Lionel Richie, first made an appearance on Justin's Instagram on Friday. Richie has reciprocated the gesture on multiple occasions with photos of the "Sorry" singer splashed across her own page.

And while Sofia, 17, and Beiber's overseas adventure — the two are in Tokyo — has sparked a flurry of romance rumors, multiple sources insist to E! News the two are "just friends" and "nothing serious" is going on between them.

Earlier this month, Bieber made headlines when he was spotted skinny dipping with Sahara Ray while on vacation in Hawaii.